Desire What Is Forbidden: The Scandal Premieres September 18, Starring Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook, and NANA

Desire What Is Forbidden: The Scandal Premieres September 18, Starring Son Ye-jin, Ji Chang-wook, and NANA

Netflix has set a September 18 global premiere date for The Scandal, a daring and dangerous love game set in Joseon-era Korea. At its center are Lady Cho, a woman too extraordinary to be confined to women’s quarters; Jo-won, the greatest playboy in Joseon; and Hui-yeon, a lady who becomes entangled in their wager. Helmed by visionary director Jung Ji-woo, The Scandal reimagines Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s classic 1782 novel "Dangerous Liaisons," infusing a modern sensibility into a period drama where characters defy social taboos to pursue their deepest desires.

The newly unveiled teaser trailer offers a glimpse into the wager that threatens to upend Bukchon, the heart of Joseon’s high society. Intercut shots showcase Lady Cho proposing the bet with a piercing gaze, Cho Won accepting it with eyes ablaze with desire, and Hui-yeon looking reluctant yet mesmerized. As Cho Won approaches Hui-yeon to secure his victory while Lady Cho watches from the shadows, tension mounts, leaving viewers eager to see the catastrophic fallout of this seductive game.

The accompanying teaser posters offer a captivating portrait of the three leads bound together by a dangerous game of temptation. Seated in her inner quarters amidst a riot of crimson blossoms, Lady Cho (Son Ye-jin) leaves viewers questioning why a virtuous noblewoman would propose such a risky wager — and what hidden motives lie beneath her calm façade. Meanwhile, Cho Won (Ji Chang-wook), true to his reputation as Joseon’s ultimate playboy, finds himself surrounded by beauty, raising the stakes on whether he will win the bet and claim his prize. Standing forlornly among blooming plum blossoms, Hui-yeon (NANA) gazes wistfully into the distance, foreshadowing her unwitting descent into their perilous web of deceit.

Blending a classic tale with a modern narrative lens, a breathtakingly immersive Korean aesthetic, and an alluring cast, The Scandal premieres on September 18, only on Netflix.